Lysine for Cold Sores

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters and oral herpes are painful, red or brown colored blisters, that usually develop on the lips, roof of the mouth and gum. They are actually caused by the herpes simplex virus, that enters the human body through the nose and mouth. Cold sores is a highly contagious viral disease, that can easily spread through physical contact with the blisters, and body fluid of the affected individual. The disease is recurrent, as the virus remains within the body, and gets activated from time to time, whenever the immune system is weakened. The factors that are associated with the activation of the virus include exposure to sunlight, cold, fever, infection, high level of arginine in the body, and physical and mental stress. The amino acid, lysine is often used to treat cold sores.

What is Lysine?

Lysine is an essential amino acid, that cannot be synthesized by our body. This means that we can get this essential amino acids only from foods or supplements. As an amino acid, it is also an important building block of protein. It is crucial for proper growth and development, formation of collagen, skin and cartilage. Foods that contain sufficient amount of lysine include potato, milk, fish, corn, chicken, beans, lentils, eggs, brewers yeast, etc.

Lysine for Treating Fever Blisters

The amino acid, lysine has been found to speed up the healing process of cold sores or shorten their duration. The herpes virus can settle down on the sensory nerves and remain dormant for several days to years, after entering our body. When the immune system is not strong enough to fight the herpes simplex virus, they become activated and then replicate rapidly. However, viral replications requires the essential amino acid, arginine. The level of arginine within the cells can be brought down by increasing its availability. This is because, the site of storage for both the amino acids are same, and when the cells have to store more lysine, the space available for arginine automatically reduces. So, the replication of the herpes simplex virus can be prevented by reducing the amount of arginine, while increasing its quantity in the body. This can be done by either consuming more lysine containing foods, or taking its supplements. However, you can also find a great many topical lotions or ointment that contain lysine. However, its topical application has not been found to be as effective as its ingestion. If its dietary intake is not sufficient to control the out break of cold sores, then you may need to take lysine supplements.

Lysine Side Effects

While taking lysine, keep in mind that this amino acid can cause some side effects, if present in an excess amount. Its most common side effects are diarrhea, pain in the stomach and formation of gallstones. Sometimes, one can also experience kidney problems, which should be immediately attended to. Rarely, it can cause allergic reactions like hives, swelling of the lips, face and tongue and breathing difficulty. These side effects should also be reported immediately to the physicians. Usually a dose of two to five grams of lysine is used to treat a cold sore outbreak.

Be sure to lower the intake of arginine during an episode of cold sores. The most important arginine rich foods are whole wheat, nuts, oatmeal, chocolates, peas, seeds, etc. Also increase the intake of vitamin A and vitamin C to empower the immune system to fight against the herpes simplex virus. To get relief from the pain and discomforts, you can apply zinc on the sores or blisters. Zinc supplements can also help to speed up the healing process of cold sores. However, if the sores become too painful and they worsen, instead of subsiding within a few days, then talk to your health care provider.